Voyagers Returning Home

We began the 2021-22 academic year by welcoming back to campus four Island School alumni who have returned to work as faculty and staff. We welcome Allison Culliney ‘15 as a high school Math teacher, Genevieve Foster ‘15 as our Development and Communications Associate, Teddy Rose ‘12 as a Computer Science and Technology teacher, and Justin Pajela ‘16 as our IT Administrator. We sat down with each of them to talk about their lives away from Island School, and why they chose to return.

Left: Allison Culliney as an Island School Na Pua Keiki student in 2001.

Right: Allison Culliney on her first day as an Island School teacher in 2021.

Allison Culliney, Class of 2015

What years did you attend Island School?

I was a student at Island School from Pre-K until 12th grade. I graduated in 2015.

What do you currently do at Island School?

I teach high school math: Geometry, Algebra II and College Algebra.

What did you do after Island School? Where did you go, what did you study, how many years were you away?

I spent a semester at Virginia Tech, realized it wasn’t for me, and spent my second semester at Kauaʻi Community College. I then transferred to University of Puget Sound where I got a B.S. in Geology and a minor in Mathematics. Halfway through my last semester of senior year, I got stuck in New Zealand due to COVID-19, and ended up graduating remotely from New Zealand in May of 2020. I took the next year as an unintentional gap year working odd jobs and traveling around New Zealand and Australia.

What brought you back to Island School? What do you find special or unique about Island School?

It was hard being away from my family throughout the pandemic, especially as we lost a few family members over the course of the year. I enjoyed working with students in my previous positions, so when I saw the opening at Island School, I thought it would be a great opportunity to dive into the world of teaching while getting to spend more time with my family. I didn’t fully appreciate all of the experiences I had at Island School until after I had graduated from high school, but looking back, I am so glad to have grown up in such a nurturing and caring community. It’s truly a unique environment, and I’m happy to be a part of it again!

Genevieve Foster, Class of 2015

What years did you attend Island School?

I went to Island School from Fourth Grade through 12th, and graduated in 2015.

What do you do at Island School?

I am the Developement and Communications Associate at Island School. I write and design our weekly and monthly newsletters. I create all of the ads for Island School that appear in The Garden Isle and Midweek Kauaʻi, created the video announcement and brochure for the Voyager Fund, among many other things.

What did you do after Island School? Where did you go, what did you study, how many years were you away?

I went to Whitman College on the mainland for four years, where I majored in Anthropology and Creative Writing. In college I became a long distance runner, the president of Whitman’s poetry club, and a poetry judge for my school’s arts and literature journal. I came home after college thinking I would stay for a year before heading to the mainland again, but along came COVID. I spent time working part-time marketing and copywriting jobs, knitting, and taking online creative writing classes until this wonderful opportunity arose at Island School! I read the job description and was thrilled to find something that would allow me to be creative at work, as well as stay close to home during this scary moment in time.

What brought you back to Island School? What do you find special or unique about Island School?

I have always felt like Island School was a sort of second home for me. My twin brother and I grew up at this school. Some of my best friends to this day are the kids I went to Island School with, and we find ourselves reminiscing on our school memories often. I love that this feeling of home continues as an employee of Island School, as I have now become coworkers with some of the people who taught me as a child, and who helped raise me. I feel very fortunate and privileged to be here.

Left: Genevieve Foster and Allison Culliney, classmates from Fourth through 12th Grade, walking into their Island School graduation ceremony together, 2015.

Right: Genevieve Foster and her father, Charley, 2019.

How many years did you spend at Island School?

I was at Island School for two years and graduated in 2012.

What do you currently do at Island School?

I am the Computer Science and Technology teacher.

What do you do at Island School? Where did you go, what did you study, how many years were you away?

After Island School, I went to college in British Columbia, Canada, and studied Education and Political Science. I stayed to work in education for three years after graduating while teaching myself coding and website design on the side, becauase I was always a bit of a geek at heart. I slowly transitioned into the tech field for a few years, working in Berlin, the Bay Area, and remotely.

What brought you back to Island School? What do you find special or uinque about Island School?

COVID planted me back on Kauaʻi after eight years abroad, and made me think about how I could use my teaching and technology background to give back to the island. I also really missed the intellectual stimulation and dialogue you can get in big cities and on the mainland, so the idea of being around such a diverse goup of coworkers with their own expertise got me really excited. Working at Island School was the natural answer to these goals.

Left: Teddy Rose in Koke’e as an Island School student, 2012.

Right: Teddy Rose in Koke’e, nine years later, as an Island School teacher, 2021.

Right: Justin Pajela in 2004, an Island School first grader.

Justin Pajela, Class of 2016

What years did you attend Island School?

I spent 7 years at Island School from Kindergarten through 6th grade. I graduated from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama in 2016.

What do you do at Island School?

I am currently the IT Administrator. I assist students, faculty, and staff with their technology needs on campus.

What did you do after Island School? Where did you go, what did you study, how many years were you away?

I attended Kamehameha Schools Kapālama on ‘Oahu as a boarder from 7th grade through 12th grade. After graduating from High School I then moved back to Kaua‘i and attended Kaua‘i Community College and received my Associate of Science in Creative Media. Before coming back to Island School I worked as a fashion photographer, digital marketing consultant, and graphic designer for clients on Kaua‘i, ‘Oahu, and the West Coast.

What brought you back to Island School? What do you find special or unique about Island School?

I came back to Island School as a way to be a part of a community that has given me an abundance of opportunities. Island School provides unique learning experiences that cultivates both academic and creative students while also preparing them for their future.